Tank-dome closure



TANK DOME CLOSURE Filed July 31 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 25, 1930.

R. e. NICHOLS ET AL TANK DOME CLOSURE Filed July 31 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet2 1. il & Q M m 0 \k Z]. T Mm r fl Feb. '25, 1930. R. G. NICHOLS ET A1.I 5

TANK DOME CLOSURE 142-20 h z'llauy idy Feb. 25, 1930. R. G. NICHOLS ETAL TANK DOME CLOSURE Filed July 31 19 26 4 Sheets-S1199: 4v

Patented Feb. 25, i 1930 UNITED: STATES PATENT oFFIcE RALPH G. NICHOLSOI JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA, ANID VICTOR WILLOUGHBY,

BIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS T0 AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COH- PANY,OI NEW YORK, N Y., ACOBPORATION OF NEW JERSEY i TANK-DOME cLosunEApplication filed luly 31',

Reference is had to the accpmpanying drawings which illustrate thepreferred, form of the invention, though it is'to be un- 4 derstood thatthe invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shownand described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereofwithin the scope of the claims will occur to persons skilled in the art.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken partial vertical central section of a car tankequipped with a dome closing means constructed in accordance with thisinvention the cock in the discharging pipe and the bottom dischargevalve being shown in elevation and the outer cover being ShOWIl indotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the outercover being re'-' moved and part of the. dome head being broken away toshow other parts more clearly.

I Figs. 3 and 4 are sections taken onthe lines- 3-3-and 44,respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the upper portion ofthe sampling means and itsconnection to the inner cover.

Fig. 6 is a partial view similar to Fig. 1' and showing the 'inventionapplied to. a car tank having a bottom discharge valve of dif-'ferentconstruction. 7

' Fig. 7 is a top plan view of car tank dome equipped with a domeclosingmeans of modi- -fied construction.

- Fig-'8 is a partial vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 7.

' Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section showin the manner of securing-theouter cover; an a Fig. 10 1sa fragmentary vertlcal section takenat-rightangles to the section of Fig..

40 8 and showing the manner of securing the operating mechanism for thebottom discharge valve to the inner cover.

This invention relates to closures for car tank domes and it is anobjectof this invention to provide an improved closure equipped 1926.Serial No. 120,315.

type described which is provided with means 1 for operating the usualbottom discharge valve so that the bottom discharge valve is stillavailable for use and maybe operated without removin the inner? dome andit is also an object of this invention to provide an improved closure vof the type described which receives as an outer cover the usual closureof the tank to which it-is applied. It

is also an object of thisinvention to provide a closure of the typedescribed which may be applied to the tanks now in use withoutnecessitating extensive changes to the structures of said tanks. Afurther object of the invention is the provision of a box-likeconstruction for attachment to a tank dome or the like, the constructioncomprisin in eflect inner and outer closures for said ome, the innerclosure serving as a supporting means for tank fittings such as fillingmeans, gauging means, discharge means, etc., which fittlngs are normallyenclosed by the outer closure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a box for closin themanhole open-- ing in a tank dome, whic box is detachably connected tothe usual dome ring whereby to be ca able of easy removal therefromwithout a ecting the dome ring, said box including an adapter forsupporting the normal dome cover and also including a bottom plate,

or what may be termed an inner closure,

which bottom plate or inner closure supports tank fittings. With such aconstruction, it

will .be apparent that upon removal of the box from the manholeopeningthe tank fit- .tings are withdrawn from the door, therebypermitting easy access to the interior of the tank.

In Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, of the drawings, a tank dome closureconstructed in accordance with this invention, is shown in connectionwith a tank 1 having a dome 2 provided with the, usual dome head 3having the usual man-hole opening 4 surrounded by a flanged dome ring 5secured to the dome head 3 by rivets 6. The dome ring 5 is threaded toreceive the standard screw type dome cover now in use. InFigs. 1 to5,the tank 1 is shown provided with a common type of bottom dischargevalve 7 which engages a seat in a discharge outlet casing 8 which issecured by the rivets 9 to the bottom sheet 10 of the tank. The valve 7is operated by a valve rod, 12 which is guided in a bracket 14 securedto the dome sheet 16 and a compression spring 18 is mounted on the rod12 between the bracket 14 and a collar 20 fixed upon the rod 12.

. Threaded into the dome ring 5 is a boxlike construction indicatedgenerally at A and which comprises a flanged dome cover holder oradapter 22 having an annular portion 23 exteriorly threaded to engagewith the threads on the dome ring 5 and an outwardly projecting shoulder24 provided with a packing 26 which engages the upper edge of the domering 5 to prevent escape of gases from the tank. Set screws 25 threadedinto the annular portion 23 and engaging the dome ring 5 preventunscrewing of the cover holder 22 from the dome ring. The cover holder22 is also provided with an upwardly projecting flange 28 which isinteriorly threaded, the threads being the same as the threads of thedome ring 5 so that the cover 30 used with the dome ring 5 will fit theflange 28 of the cover holder 22. The cover 30 is provided with anoutwardly projecting flange 32 which engages the upper edge of theflange 28 and has a gas tight engagement therewith. The dome coverholder 22-is also provided with an inwardly projecting flange 34 andwith inwardly projecting lugs 86 having openings to receive tap bolts 38which'engage in threaded openings inthe pan-shaped inner cover 40 andserve to secure the inner cover 40 to the dome cover holder 22, thecover 40 being provided with apacking 42 so as to make, a tight jointwith the flange 34 of the holder 22.

' The cover 40 is provided with inwardly projecting lugs 41 havingthreaded openings which receive the tap bolts 38 and with a-dependingjournal box 46 in which is journaled apinion 48 which meshes with a gear50 fixed on the rod 12, the gear 50 being provided with cam 52 whichengages with the bracket 14 when the gear 50 is rotated, the cam 52serving to lift the valve 7 and open the discharge outlet. .The pinion48 is secured in the journal box 46 by bolts 56 which extend throughopenings in the journal box 46 and engage in the groove'54 in thepinion. The pinion is also provided with a square central opening intowhich extends an operating rod 58 which projects through an openinginthe cover 40 and provided at its upper end with an operating handle 60connected by a pin 59 and an inverted T slot 61 to the rod 58 so thatthe handle may be raised to operate the pinion 48 and valve 7 in eitherdirection or dropped on the rod 58 so as to permit of placing the cover30 on the flange 28. Leakage past the rod 58 is prevented by a packing62. The inner cover 40 is also provided with a threaded opening havingthreaded therein a bushing 64 in which is threaded a. filling anddischarge pipe 66 which extends; to the bottom of'the'tank, being guidednear its lower end by a funnel shape guide bracket 68 and having itslower end projecting into a sump 70.

Also secured to the bushing 64 is a cock 72 to which the filling anddischarge pipes may be connected, thefcock 72 being'operated byapplication of a wrench or other suitable means to the angular end 74 ofthe valve plug. Also mounted in the cover 40 is a bushing 76 having asmall opening therein in which travels arod 78 having secured to itslower end. a float 80 which travels in a pipe 82 threaded in the bushing7 6, the pipe 82 being open at its lower end and provided with suitablenumber of small openings 84 throughout its length." A pin 85 inserted inopenings inthe pipe 82 retains the float 80 in the pipe when the tank isempty. To the bushing 76 there is also secured a pipe 86 which enclosesthe rod 78 and projects above the cover 40 and itis provided at its topwith a cap 88 which retains the float in its lowered position andprevents leakage from the tank through the opening in the bushing. Thelower portion of the pipe 82 is supported by a bracket 90 which iscarried by the pipe 66 and which also serves to support the lower end ofthe sampling device which comprises a small pipe 92 having openings 94therein at its lower end and having its upper end mounted in a bushing96 threaded in the cover 40. Mounted in the bushing 96 is the pipe 98having a stop-cock 100-connected thereto and extending through Us 102 tothe bent pipe 104,

the bent pipe serving as an outlet through which a sample of thecontents of the tank may be discharged when there is pressure in thetank and the Us serving to make a flexible joint which will permit ofthe pipe being raised fora discharge-of the contents of the tank intothe sampling vessel and being lowered to permit of placing the cover 30in position. p In the cover 40 there is also mounted a pipe 106 whichdoes not project below the cover 40 and which is provided at its upperend with a cock 108 having an operating handle'110. the cock 108an'd'handle 110 being so arranged that when the cock 108 is closed thehandle 110 rests upon the angularportion 74 of the plug -is raised to aposition in which thecock 108 is i opened. The cock 108 is so arrangedthat in Fig. 6 the gear 50' is raised by the en 'ment of the threadedvalve stem 112 with handle 110 may not be turned more than 90 degreesand it is im ossible' to move the cock 108 to closed position with thehandle 110 in any positionother than in engagement with the angularportion 74 of the plug of cook 72.

- In Fig. 6 the dome cover shown in Fi s. 1 to 5 is shown applied to acar tank in-w ich a modified type of discharge valve is used. In Figs. 1to'5 the gear 50 and rod 12 are raised by the cam 52 in order to raisevalve 7 while Gag]:-

the construction shown inFig. v6 is identical with that of Figs..1 to 5..1 1

In the construction shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, the-dome closureis shown in connection with a tank dome 120 having a dome ring 122secured thereto in any desired manner and rovided with spaced projectinglugs 124 to w l'lich are pivotally secured the bolts 126, a constructionwhich is commonly used in order 'to bolt to the ring 122 a' cover, suchI -as the cover 128, having radially projecting slotted lugs 130.Mountedin ring 122 is adome cover holder 132 having formed integrallytherewith an inner cover 134 and havin an outwardly projecting shoulder136 provi ed with a packing 138 which rests upon the upper edge of thedome ring 122. The

holder 132 is also formed with an integral upwardly projecting flange140 which receives the cover 128 and with outwardly projecting lugs 142.to which are pivotally secured the 9 bolts 144 which engage in the slotsin the lugs 130 of the cover-128 securing the cover 128 tothe flange140. The holder 132 is also provided withv radially outwardlyprojecting,

slotted lugs 146 which receive the bolts 126 to secure the cover holder132 to thedome ring 122. The holder 132 is provided with threadedopenings in which are fitted bolts 148 which prevent the removal of thecover holder from the dome ring 122 upon loosening of the bolts Theinner cover 134 is provided with an openingin which is mounted a bushing150 secured to the cover by tap bolts 152 which pass through openings inflanges on the bushing and engage in tapped openin s in the cover 134.-The bushing 150 is provided with an inwardly opening journal box inwhich is rotatably mounted a pinion 154 which meshes withthe gear 156 tooperate a bottom discharge valve as in Fig. 1. The pinion 154 is,bushing 150 and is rovided at its upper end with an operating andle 166as in Fig. 1. Formed integral with the inner cover 134 is an outwardlyprojecting annular flange or collar 168 whic is interiorly threaded toreceive a filling and discharge pipe 170 which is also welded to theinner cover 134 as at 172. The upper end of the pipe 17 0 projectsbeyond the collar 168 and recelves a cock 174 which engages with thecollar 168.' A packing 176 provides a tight joint between the cock 174and the collar 168. As in Figs. 1 to 6, the cock 17 4 is provided with avalve plug having an angular'operating projection 178 which is engaged ban operating handle 180 of a cock 182 whic is carried by a ipe 184-mounted in a threaded openingin the cover 134. The cover 134 is alsorovided with a device 186 and'with a samp 'ng device 188, both being ofa construction identical with the construction of' the correspondingdevices to provide for the proper guide and support of the filling anddischarging pipe and to provide a sump topermit o the complete dischargeof the contents of the tank. I

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a car tank having. a dome provided with aman-hole opening, a domering about said opening, a dome cover holder mounted in said ring andinner and outer dome covers carried by said holder.

2. In a car tank having a dome provided with a man-hole opening, a domering about said 0 ening, a dome cover holder mounted in sai ring, aninner dome cover ca'rried'by said holder, filling and discharge meansmounted in said inner dome cover and an outer dome cover carried by saidholder.

3, In a car tank having a dome provided with a man-hole opening, a domering about 1 5 said opening, a dome cover holder mounted, in said ring,an inner dome cover carried by said holder, a bottom discharge valve forsaid tank, valve operating means mounted in said with a dome cover andhaving a man-hole opening, a cover for said openlng, a bottom dischargevalve for said tank and operating means for said valve comprising meansrotatably mounted on said cover.

6. In a car tank having a dome provided with a man-hole opening, a domering about said opening, a dome cover holder mounted in said ring, adome cover carried by said holder, a bottom discharge valve for saidtank, valve operating means mounted in said cover and filling anddischarge means mounted in said cover.

7. In a car tank having a dome provided with a man-hole opening, a domering about Said opening, a dome cover holder mounted in said ring and adome cover carried by said holder, said dome cover fitting said ringupon removal of the holder.

' 8. In a car tank having a dome provided with a man-hole opening, adome ring about said opening and an annular dome cover holder fittingsaid ring, said dome cover holder having a portion to receivea coverfitting said ring. Y

9. In a car tank having-a dome provided with a man-hole opening, a domering about said opening, a dome cover holder having a portion engagingsaid ring and flanges projecting from said portion and covers carried bysaid holder in engagement with said flanges.

10. In a car tank having a dome provided with a man-hole opening, a domering about said opening, an upwardly flanged dome cover holder fittingsaid ring, a cover carried by said holder in engagement with the flange,

means for controlling the tank contents, and

means for supporting said controlling means from said cover holder.

11. In a car tank having a dome provided with a man-hole opening, a domering about said opening and adapted to receive a cover, a flangedannular dome cover holder adapted to fit said ring and receive the coverfor said ring on a flange, and an inner cover carried by said coverholder.

12. In a car tank having a dome provided with a man-hole opening and adome ring adjacent thereto, a cover for said man-hole opening, an outercover for said dome, and a holder removably secured to said dome ringand supporting said outer cover and the cover for saidman-hole opening.

'13. In a car tank having a dome provided with a man-hole opening and adome ring adjacent said opening, a dome cover holder carried by saiddome ring and having an up- Wardly extending portion and a depending,portion, a dome cover mounted on said up- "wardly extending portion anda man-hole closure carried by said depending portion.

14. In a car tank having a dome provided with a man-hole opening anda'dome rlng adjacent said opening, a dome cover holder secured to saiddome ring and having an upwardly extending portion and a depending meansconnected to said man-hole vclosure,

and a dome cover carried by said holder:

15. In combination, a tank dome comprising a head provided with amanhole opening, a box closing said opening and having an attachingflange intermediate its ends by which itmay be secured to the dome, saidbox havin a bottom plate positioned in the dome, tank fittings supportedby the bottom plate, and an outer cover.

16. In combination, a tank dome comprising a head provided with amanhole opening, a box secured to the dome and arranged in the opening,said box being provided with an outer .cover and an inner cover arrangedwithin the dome, andtank fittings supported by the inner cover.

17. In a car tank having a dome provided with a manhole opening, aninternal closure for said opening, a bottom discharge valve for saidtank, a valve stem for operating the valve, and rotatable valve stemengaging means secured to the internal closure and connected to. thevalve stem to actuate the latter. 7

18. In combination, a tank dome havinga dome ring, and means forproviding a housing in said dome for supporting tank fittings while atthe same time permitting use of the normal dome cover, comprising anextension ring having a lower end for attachment to the dome ring, andan upwardly extending flange for receiving and holdingthe dome cover.

19. In combination, a tank dome having an opening, a ring surroundingthe opening, an

adapter secured to the ring for supporting the dome cover normallysupported by the ring,

. an internal closure for the openingsecured to the adapter, and tankfittings supported by an opening, a dome ring surrounding the opening, abox detachably connected to the dome ring and closin the opening, saidbox including a bottom p ate and a dome cover,

and fittings for the tank passing through the bottom plate.

22. In combination, a tank dome having an opening, a dome ringsurroundin the opening, and means for providing a ousing in the dome forsupporting tank fittings while at the same time permitting use of thenormal dome cover, comprising an adapter detacha- 101; secured to thedome ring and rovided with a bottom plate in which the t fittin s aremounted, said adapter having an upwar 1y extending flange for reeeiyingand holding 5 the dome cover. l

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. v

' RALPH G. NICHOLS. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my mhand.

' VICTOR WILLOUGHBY

